Method of forging steel-gate valve bodies



Dec. 10, 1929. v. E. FLoDlN METHOD OF FORGING STEEL GATE VALVE BODIES Filed Dec. 9, i1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIGEOR E. FLODIN, OF OAK PARK, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CRANE C0., OF CAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOS METHOD 0F FORGING STEEL-GATE VALVE BODIES Application filedr December 9, 1927. Serial No. 238,83.

1c of forging hollow steel valve bodies with the end and bonnet anges forged integral therewith as desired and a method of forging such .bodies to provide integral guide ribs or the like on the hollow interior by forming them during the forging operation.

The article that is, the valve, formed by the forging process disclosed and claimed herein is fully disclosed and claimed in my a0 copending application Serial No. 91,015, filed February 27, 1920.

Still further objects will be appreciated after perusal of the following .description and claims and after viewing the drawing in which:

Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are perspective views i showing the products from various steps in the process from the solid billet to the hollow forged gate valve body.

Fig. 7 shows the step of the process during the formation of the product shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections taken at right angles to one another illustrating the step of the process for the formation of the product shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 9 showing part of each oi the exterior forming dies.

Figs. l0 and 11 are views similar to Figs. 8 and 9 respectively, representing the step of the method during which the product at the stage illustrated in Fig. 5 is formed, Fig. 11 showing slightly more of each oi the exterior forming dies than shown 1n Fig. 9.

Fig. l2 is a section ot a valve body taken on the axis of the ends at the stage of the product illustrated in Fig.` 6; and

Figs. 13 and 14: are vertical sectional views at right angles to one another of `a complete valve utilizing a body formed in accordance with my process.

in following one mode ot procedure ofA my invention solid rod or billet stock is cut in predetermined lengths calculated to provide the amount ci material necessary to form the articie desired with a minimum amount of surplusage or dashing. For valve bodies and the like l prefer to utilize what is generally known in the trade as a mild steel. Fig. 1 illustrates a billet or length of stock after being out to the redetermined size determined for the pro uction of a forged steel valve bod proportionately shown in the succeeding igs. 2 to l2 inclusive.

As each billet receives the same or substantially the same treatment for similar articles, a description of the process with respect to one should be sucient. The billet i lis heated to any forgin temperature desired as may be determined y one skilled in the art, but preferably to about 21.00 F. and is thereupon placed in a die situated in any suitable forging machine and what shall term a piercing mandrel 3 is brought v down against the top of the billet with one ,or more heavy blowsto form the article or intermediate product shown in Fig. 2. Prior to the forging operation the forging surface of the mandrel and the interior forging surface of the die recess in the die block are preferably coated with a heavy forging oil or grease to prevent the heated metal from sticking to those surfaces ot the die and mandrel. The billet is, of course, placed in the die block 2, shown in Fig. 7,

in an upright position and centered as near as possible with respect to the piercing mandrel indicated at 3 in said figure in order that when the head t of the forging ma chine carrying the piercing mandrel descends relatively toward the die block 2 the metal will be extruded outwardly to the shape in cross section shown in Fig. i and in perspective in Fig. 2. The piercing mandrel 3 is ot the general sha 4e lindicated in Fig. 7 with the portion in icated at 5 ot tapering but generally circular cross section and with the portion 6 of tapering but gein orally rectangular cross section and serves merely as a means of forming the general outlines or interior shape of the forging. r1`he mandrel 3 is of generally greater volume than desired for the interior volume of the finished product and the die block 2 provides a die recess also of greater volume than thevolume displacement desired in the finished article. This permits easy working during the one or more finishing steps of the process.V

After the piercing operation whether con-l ducted or accomplished with one or more blows or forging operations, the article resulting therefrom as shown in Fig. 2 carries a fin or dashing 7 due to extrusion of the surplus metal outwardly from the preliminary flange 8 into grooves or recesses provided in the faces of the forging head 4 and the die block 2, which is preferably removed by tamping to provide the article shown in or large bodies I prefer to complete the finishing operations in two or more steps and for the purpose of illustration, a finishine' process in two stages will be described. semi-final or what I shall term breakdown mandrel 9 of oversized proportions, formed with grooves 1Y0 at its corners to start ribs 11 shown clearlyin Fig. 12, is inserted in the cup-shaped product shown in Fig. 3 after the latter has been reheated to about 2100o F. The mandrel and product are then laid in a horizontal position between two dies having similar depressions designed to produce the semi-final product shown in Figs. 4 and 8, and these dies are brought together one or more times with sufficient force finally to form this semi-final product. It will be noted `from a cursory inspection of Figs. 4, 8 'and 9 that this operation produces a product with well roun ed contours, i. e. without sharp l outline and of slightly oversize dimensions.

It should be here noted that with valve ,bodies of large size andeven with valve bodies of small size, it is best, if not necessary, to proceed with' the formation of the final productn by successive steps each only partially com leting the article since the metal cools rapi ly and might injure the niandrels and dies used in its formation if it became too cool and since also the metal of the product might be cracked or otherwise injured by a too rapid formation or transformation from its original billet to its final form. Not only should the formation take place gradually through successive steps but, as a corollary proposition, no attempt should be inade to displace any material portion of the metal any relatively great distance because of the tendency toward the .development of defects by so doing. v

As will be noted from Figs. 4, 8 and 9, the semi-final operations produce a product having a nn or dashing 1.2 which may be cnt o' as from the product shown in before subsequent operations, but as this might add tothe expense of the process and has been found unnecessary in most instances 1t may be left on the semi-final product during the finishing operation.

The semifinal product is preferably again heated to approximately 2100o F. orother suitable forging temperature and a finishing mandrel 13 provided with grooves 14 similar to grooves l0 of the breakdown mandrel 9, except that they are more sharply cut and eut to a finished size, of course allowing for the usual contraction of the metal, is inserted, and the mandrel and the semifinal product are' again horizontally positioned between two finishing dies designed with similar recesses adapted to shape or forge the product illust-rated in 5. f

. Viewing Figs. 5, 10 and 11 it will be noted that all surfaces and corners of the valve body, both interior and exterior', are formed by the finishing dies and nishing mandrel with very sharp outlines, as in this instance is desired. The dies and mandrel are, as will be understood, so constructed that a finished product of proper dimensionswill be formed at the end of the finishing. forging operation, of course allowing for' the shrinkage which will occur. It is essential that the shaping of the metal be a series of gradual steps involving a series -of combination breakdown and finish mandrels respectively. As the size of the articles increases, the gradual steps may perforce be more numerous. Before use of the breakdown mandrel or finishing inandrel or their. corresponding dies they are both coated with heavy forging oil or grease to prevent sticking of the metal being formed.

Preferably each of the mandrels is provided with .a guiding collar integral therewith adapted to be received within a similarly shaped recess in the die blocks with suitable clearance to allow for expansion. 'lhe die block 4, for instance, is provided with a rectangular guideway or central slot within which a rectangular (in this instance square) collar 3 is adapted to inove during the forging operation. The mandrel 9 has a square collar 9 adapted to fit in a similarly shaped recess or guideway formed lia-lf in each of the 'halves of the die cooperative therewith, while a mandrel 13 is provided with a like collar 13 adapted to fit in a similarly shaped guideway formed half in each of the die halves illus tiated in Fig. 11. The collar and guideways need not be square but may be of any other desirable shape that will 'guide the inandrels 6 and 12. For the valve illustrated the initial flange 8 has been completed to form a final flange and the extra metal included between the undersized piercing mandrel 3 and the oversized die 2 has been utilized to form the ends 16 and 17. After the dashing has rim of the flange may be machined to provide a recess 21 for the reception of a gasket 22 and the ribs 11 forming between them as they do a slot or guide-way 23 may be readily machined to receive the guides 24 of a gate, generally indicated at 25, vertically movable through the medium of. stem 26 and handwheel 27. `l

The valve produced in the manner as has been above set forth or any valves produced by modifications within the scope of my invention will be fdund to have many desirable qualities, among which are those which have been hereinabove enumerated. The mandrels and dies are made from extremely hard alloy steel, well known upon the market and may be utilized for the manufacture of many articles before being worn or distorted to the extent necessary for their replacement. l

While I have described and illustrated a process within the scope of my invention for the production of a type of hollow valve body, it will be understood and appreciated that with suitable modifications the process of the invention is well adapted for the manufacture of various and sundry valves of different types whether they be globe or gate valve bodies. For these reasons I do not desire to be limited by the embodiment of the process illustrated and described but only by the' spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. The method of manufacturing a hollow steel valve body from a single piece of solid stock comprising heating the stock to forg. 1g

temperature, initially piercing the stock to .A

start the formation of the valve chamber, and forging the stock to an oversize cross-sectional area about an 'oversize mandrel, reheating the 'stock to forging temperature, thereafter forging the resultant product about a mandrel of the proportions and characteristics of the chamber desired within the body, to size and shape desired. and finally forming inlet and out et openings through the valve body ends and into tho chamber formed in the body.

2. The method of manufacturing a valve body comprising, forging a piece of solid metal stock with successive mandrels and dies by rst partially piercing the metal while starting the formation of the exterior surface and then, by a succession of substantially independent forging operations, ,gradually forming the interior and the exterior ofthe body to the size and shape desired.

3. The steps'in the method of manufacturing a valve body comprising, forging a piece of solid metal stock between a series of dies to gradually change the exterior shape of the metal from its initial to its nal form and simultaneously forging the interior of the body with a series of'mandrels corresponding in number to the series of dies to start and gradually forming ythe valve chamber, the series of dies and mandrels' being each in number greater than two.

4.I The steps in the method of manufacturing a valve body comprising, forging a piece of solid metal stock by successive stages between a series of dies to gradually change the exterior shape of the metal from its initial to its final form and simultaneously forging they interior of the body by successive stages with a series of mandrels corresponding in number to the series of dies to start and gradually forming the valve chamber, the series of dies and mandrels being each in number greater than two, the metal stock being heated to a forging temperature between succeeding operations. l

5. The steps in the method of manufacturing a valve body with a valve chamber comprising, forging a piece of solid metal stock by a series of'successive, graduated forging operations reater in number than two, in each succee ing operation effecting a material change in the interior and exterior shape of the body, the metal stock being heated to a forging temperature between succeeding operations. v l

6. The method of manufacturing a valve body comprising, forging a piece of solid metal stock by successive stages between a series of dies to gradually change the exterior shape of the metal from its initial to its final form, simultaneously forging the interior of the body by successive stages with a series of mandrels corresponding in number to the series of dies to start and gradually forming the valve chamber, the series of dies and mandrels being each in number greater than two,

the metal stock being heated to a forging temnature.

VICTOR E. FLODIN. 

